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{{Short description|American book publisher}}
{{no footnotes|date=March 2012}}
{{no footnotes|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox publisher
{{Infobox publisher
| image =
| image =
| parent = [[SAMS Publishing]] (1959-1985)
| parent = [[SAMS Publishing]] (1959–1985)
| status = Defunct
| status = Defunct
| founded = {{Start date and age|1850}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|1850}}
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==Company history==
==Company history==
The company began in 1850 October 3 when [[Samuel Merrill (Indiana politician)|Samuel Merrill]] bought an Indianapolis bookstore and entered the publishing business. After his death in 1855, his son, Samuel Merrill, Jr. continued the business. Soon after the [[American Civil War]] (1861-1865]] the business became Merrill, Meigs, and Company, and in 1883 the name changed again to the Bowen-Merrill Company. In 1903 the name became the Bobbs-Merrill Company, after long-time director, [[William Conrad Bobbs]]. From 1899 through 1909, the company published 16 novels whose sales placed each of them among the nation's top ten best-selling books of the year for one or more years.{{citation needed|date=March 2012}}
The Bobbs-Merrill Company began in 1850 October 3 when [[Samuel Merrill (Indiana politician)|Samuel Merrill]] bought an Indianapolis bookstore and entered the publishing business. After his death in 1855, his son, Samuel Merrill, Jr. continued the business. Soon after the [[American Civil War]] (1861–1865) the business became Merrill, Meigs, and Company, and in 1883 the name changed again to the Bowen-Merrill Company. In 1903 the name became the Bobbs-Merrill Company, after long-time director, [[William Conrad Bobbs]]. From 1899 through 1909, the company published 16 novels whose sales placed each of them among the nation's top ten best-selling books of the year for one or more years.{{citation needed|date=March 2012}}


The company was plaintiff in ''[[Bobbs-Merrill Co. v. Straus]]'', 210 U.S. 339 (1908), a case regarded{{by whom|date=March 2012}} as the origin of copyright's [[first-sale doctrine]].{{citation needed|date=March 2012}}
The company was plaintiff in ''[[Bobbs-Merrill Co. v. Straus]]'', 210 U.S. 339 (1908), a case regarded{{by whom|date=March 2012}} as the origin of copyright's [[first-sale doctrine]].{{citation needed|date=March 2012}}
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In 1944, Bobbs-Merrill commissioned artist [[Evelyn Copelman]] to illustrate a new edition of ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]'', reprinted as ''The Wizard of Oz'' and ''The New Wizard of Oz''. Copelman's illustrations were more influenced by the 1939 [[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|Judy Garland MGM film version]] of the book than by [[William Wallace Denslow|W. W. Denslow]]'s original 1900 illustrations, although the credits on the book stated otherwise. The year that Copelman's illustrations first appeared, 1949, was also the year of the film's first re-release.
In 1944, Bobbs-Merrill commissioned artist [[Evelyn Copelman]] to illustrate a new edition of ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]'', reprinted as ''The Wizard of Oz'' and ''The New Wizard of Oz''. Copelman's illustrations were more influenced by the 1939 [[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|Judy Garland MGM film version]] of the book than by [[William Wallace Denslow|W. W. Denslow]]'s original 1900 illustrations, although the credits on the book stated otherwise. The year that Copelman's illustrations first appeared, 1949, was also the year of the film's first re-release.


In 1959, The [[Sams Publishing|Howard W. Sams Company]] purchased Bobbs-Merrill. When Sams was acquired by [[Macmillan Publishers (United States)|Macmillan]] in 1985, the Bobbs-Merrill name ceased being used, with the exception of continued sales of the Fifth Revision of ''[[The Joy of Cooking]]'', which continued to be a steady seller for Macmillan, as well as selected College Division titles, such as the Library of Liberal Arts.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| last = McDowell| first = Edwin| title = Two Publishers, Bobbs-Merrill and Dial, Being Dissolved| work = The New York Times| access-date = 2018-01-27| date = 1985-04-24| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/24/books/two-publishers-bobbs-merrill-and-dial-being-dissolved.html}}</ref>
In 1959, The [[Sams Publishing|Howard W. Sams Company]] purchased Bobbs-Merrill. When Sams was acquired by [[Macmillan Publishers (United States)|Macmillan]] in 1985, the Bobbs-Merrill name ceased being used, with the exception of continued sales of the Fifth Revision of ''[[The Joy of Cooking]]''. This book continued to be a steady seller for Macmillan. There were also selected College Division titles, such as the Library of Liberal Arts.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| last = McDowell| first = Edwin| title = Two Publishers, Bobbs-Merrill and Dial, Being Dissolved| work = The New York Times| access-date = 2018-01-27| date = 1985-04-24| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/24/books/two-publishers-bobbs-merrill-and-dial-being-dissolved.html}}</ref>


==Book series==
==Book series==
* The American Lake
* Bobbs-Merrill Reprint Series in the Social Sciences
* American Trails Series<ref>[https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=se%3AAmerican%20trails%20series%20(Bobbs-Merrill%20Company) se:American trails series (Bobbs-Merrill Company)], worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 April 2023.</ref>
* Child Classics Readers
* Bobbs-Merrill Reprint Series in the Social Sciences<ref>[https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=se%3ABobbs-Merrill%20reprint%20series%20in%20the%20social%20sciences se:Bobbs-Merrill reprint series in the social sciences], worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 April 2023.</ref>
* Childhood of Famous Americans Series
* Childhood of Famous Americans Series<ref>[https://www.publishinghistory.com/childhood-of-famous-americans-series-bobbs-merrill.html Childhood of Famous Americans Series (Bobbs-Merrill) - Book Series List], publishinghistory.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.</ref><ref>[https://thecurriculumchoice.com/childhood-of-famous-americans-series/ Childhood of Famous Americans Series], thecurriculumchoice.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.exodusbooks.com/childhood-of-famous-americans/5269/ Childhood of Famous Americans], exodusbooks.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.</ref><ref>Alan Singer, [https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/7/25/2041922/-Childhood-of-Some-In-Famous-Americans Childhood of Some (In)Famous Americans], dailykos.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.</ref><ref>Betsy Bird, [https://afuse8production.slj.com/2014/08/25/historical-kids-what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-nonfiction-bios-these-days/ Historical Kids: What the HECK is Going On With Nonfiction Bios These Days?], slj.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.librarything.com/nseries/1769/Childhood-of-Famous-Americans Childhood of Famous Americans], librarything.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.</ref>
* The Library of Liberal Arts
* Library of Liberal Arts<ref>[https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=se%3ALibrary%20of%20liberal%20arts se:Library of liberal arts], worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 April 2023.</ref>
* Live Dolls series
* Raggedy Ann series
* Live Dolls (implied series)
* Makers of American Tradition
* Notable American Trials
* [[Raggedy Ann]]


==See also==
==See also==

* [[Angus Cameron (publisher)]]
* [[Angus Cameron (publisher)]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

== Archives ==
[https://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/findingaids/view?docId=InU-Li-VAC1799.xml&brand=general&text1=bobbs-merrill&startDoc=1 Bobbs-Merrill mss., 1885-1957]. Lilly Library, Indiana University.


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*Cady, Edwin H. ed. (1967). ''The Indiana University Bookman''. No. 8: Studies in the Bobbs-Merrill Papers. https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/bookman/issue/view/360
⚫
*O'Bar, Jack ''[http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED266787&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED266787 The Origins and History of the Bobbs-Merrill Company]'', Occasional Papers, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Publications Office, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1985).
*O’Bar, J. (1985). The Old Merrill Bookstore: Its Indianapolis Background and History and Its Relationship to the Bobbs-Merrill Company. ''The Journal of Library History.'' 20(4), 408–426.


{{commons cat}}
⚫
*Jack O'Bar, ''[http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED266787&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED266787 The Origins and History of the Bobbs-Merrill Company]'', Occasional Papers, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Publications Office, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1985).
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Defunct book publishing companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct book publishing companies of the United States]]
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[[Category:1985 disestablishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:1985 disestablishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:1959 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:1959 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Book publishing companies based in Indiana]]

Latest revision as of 01:25, 9 June 2024

Bobbs-Merrill Company
Parent companySAMS Publishing (1959–1985)
StatusDefunct
Founded1850; 174 years ago (1850)
FounderSamuel Merrill
Defunct1985; 39 years ago (1985)
SuccessorMacmillan
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters locationIndianapolis, Indiana

The Bobbs-Merrill Company was a book publisher located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Company history[edit]

The Bobbs-Merrill Company began in 1850 October 3 when Samuel Merrill bought an Indianapolis bookstore and entered the publishing business. After his death in 1855, his son, Samuel Merrill, Jr. continued the business. Soon after the American Civil War (1861–1865) the business became Merrill, Meigs, and Company, and in 1883 the name changed again to the Bowen-Merrill Company. In 1903 the name became the Bobbs-Merrill Company, after long-time director, William Conrad Bobbs. From 1899 through 1909, the company published 16 novels whose sales placed each of them among the nation's top ten best-selling books of the year for one or more years.[citation needed]

The company was plaintiff in Bobbs-Merrill Co. v. Straus, 210 U.S. 339 (1908), a case regarded[by whom?] as the origin of copyright's first-sale doctrine.[citation needed]

Bobbs-Merrill was known for publishing such authors as Keith Ayling, Erving Goffman, Richard Halliburton, David Markson, Walter Dean Myers, Ayn Rand, James Whitcomb Riley, Mary Roberts Rinehart and Irma S. Rombauer. [1] Of note, Irma S. Rombauer wrote The Joy of Cooking, Mary Roberts Rinehart wrote The Circular Staircase (1908) and Keith Ayling wrote The Story of Old Leatherneck of the Flying Tigers (1945). Bobbs-Merrill also published the early works of fantasy writer L. Frank Baum.

Bobbs-Merrill was responsible for a long period in its history for publishing the codified state laws of the State of Indiana and of other U.S. states.[1] The firm also published legal and school textbooks, children's books (including The Wizard of Oz and "27 titles in the Raggedy Ann series"),[2][3] and texts in the history of philosophy.

In 1944, Bobbs-Merrill commissioned artist Evelyn Copelman to illustrate a new edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, reprinted as The Wizard of Oz and The New Wizard of Oz. Copelman's illustrations were more influenced by the 1939 Judy Garland MGM film version of the book than by W. W. Denslow's original 1900 illustrations, although the credits on the book stated otherwise. The year that Copelman's illustrations first appeared, 1949, was also the year of the film's first re-release.

In 1959, The Howard W. Sams Company purchased Bobbs-Merrill. When Sams was acquired by Macmillan in 1985, the Bobbs-Merrill name ceased being used, with the exception of continued sales of the Fifth Revision of The Joy of Cooking. This book continued to be a steady seller for Macmillan. There were also selected College Division titles, such as the Library of Liberal Arts.[4]

Book series[edit]

  • The American Lake
  • American Trails Series[5]
  • Bobbs-Merrill Reprint Series in the Social Sciences[6]
  • Childhood of Famous Americans Series[7][8][9][10][11][12]
  • Library of Liberal Arts[13]
  • Live Dolls (implied series)
  • Makers of American Tradition
  • Notable American Trials
  • Raggedy Ann

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Robert E. Johnson, "The Hoosier House", The Indianapolis Star, 2 February 1947, p. 89.
  2. ^ "Bobbs-Merrill firm will close", The Indianapolis News, 19 April 1985, p. 20.
  3. ^ Eric B. Schoch, "Venerable Bobb-Merrill firm to close", The Indianapolis Star, 19 April 1985, p. 49.
  4. ^ McDowell, Edwin (1985-04-24). "Two Publishers, Bobbs-Merrill and Dial, Being Dissolved". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  5. ^ se:American trails series (Bobbs-Merrill Company), worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  6. ^ se:Bobbs-Merrill reprint series in the social sciences, worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  7. ^ Childhood of Famous Americans Series (Bobbs-Merrill) - Book Series List, publishinghistory.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  8. ^ Childhood of Famous Americans Series, thecurriculumchoice.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  9. ^ Childhood of Famous Americans, exodusbooks.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  10. ^ Alan Singer, Childhood of Some (In)Famous Americans, dailykos.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  11. ^ Betsy Bird, Historical Kids: What the HECK is Going On With Nonfiction Bios These Days?, slj.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  12. ^ Childhood of Famous Americans, librarything.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  13. ^ se:Library of liberal arts, worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 April 2023.

Archives[edit]

Bobbs-Merrill mss., 1885-1957. Lilly Library, Indiana University.

Further reading[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bobbs-Merrill Company.
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